ITU-R

The International Telecommunications Union Radiocommunications Sector (ITU-R) is one of the three Sectors of the ITU. The ITU is the United Nations specialized agency in the field of telecommunications. The ITU-R is responsible for the international management of the radio frequency spectrum and satellite orbits.

The main tasks of the ITU-R are:

• the allocation of bands of the radio frequency spectrum, the allotment of radio frequencies and the registration of radio frequency assignments and of any associated orbital position in the geostationary satellite orbit in order to avoid harmful interference between radio stations of different countries;
• coordinate efforts to eliminate harmful interference between radio stations of different countries and to improve the use made of radio frequencies and of the geostationary orbit for radiocommunication services.

The allocation of frequency bands to radio services is laid down in the Radio Regulations.

The work programme, the studies and resulting ITU-R Recommendations are approved at a Radiocommunicatons Assembly (RA). A RA is held every three to four years, usually prior to a World Radio Conference (WRC).